Fiber-case railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER.

FIBER CASE RAILWAY SIGNAL TOBPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 25, 1910 1,090,460, Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

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FRANK DUTGHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T CENTRAL RAIL- WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FIBER-CASE RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDQ.

Patented Mar. 1'7, 1914.

Application filed August 25, 1910. Serial No. 578,983.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTOI-IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fiber Case Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in fiber case railway signal torpedoes, and pertains to an improved manner of attaching a rail-engaging strap thereto without the use of metal.

The obj eot of my present improvement is to produce a fiber case torpedo and attaching thereto a rail-engaging strap in an effective manner without the use of metal and thereby avoiding injury which is likely to occur when metal forms any part of a toredo.

p In the accompanying drawing-Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved torpedo shown attached to the tread of a railroad rail. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinal of the rail-engaging strap on the line 33, of Fig. 2, the torpedo shown applied to the tread of a railroad rail. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of my improved torpedo. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the parts comprising the torpedo shown in separated relation. Fig. 6 is a slight modification of the strap retaining fiber plate.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the torpedo case, 2 the explosive tablet or compound, 3 the rail-engaging strap and 4 the strap retaining fiber plate.

My present improvement is here shown as applied to that form of fiber torpedo which is composed of an open ended tube. I wish it understood, however, that it is adapted for use with a fiber torpedo having other form of fiber case. That form of case here shown is simply for illustrative purposes and is only one mechanical expression of the application of the present improvement.

When an open ended tubular case is used, the open ends thereof will have any suit-able form of water-proof closure 5, which forms no part of my present improvement.

In carrying out my invention the rail-engaging strap 3 is located between the bottom of the case and a strap retaining fiber plate 4. As here shown, this plate preferably has a recess 6 to receive the strap 3. While this is preferred and desirable, it is not essential to my present improvement.

In carrying out my invention, the bottom of the torpedo case 1 is coated or covered with a coating or disk 7, of suitable cement. The strip 3 is located between the retaining fiber plate 4 and the cement disk 7 and tightly pressed in position, which causes the cement to adhere to the strap and form a holding means against endwise movement of the strap. The plate 4 is provided with any suitable number of apertures 8, and when the plate is pressed against the cement, the cement is forced into the apertures, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, forming a projection or cement rivet. To form a head upon this cement rivet a suitable batch, or batches of cement 9, is applied to the outer side of the retaining plate 4, at the apertures 8, thus forming a cement rivet or rivets for holding the retaining plate 2 and case 1, and the plate in turn holds the rail-engaging strap in position. This construction is found to be effective in practice and provides a nonmetallic holding means for the rail-engaging strap with the consequent advantages.

While I have shown and described the re taining plate with apertures, I desire it to be understood that this specific construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention disclosed, the principal feature of which is having the cement extending from between the plate and the case and around and upon the outer side of the retaining plate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A fiber torpedo comprising a fiber case, an explosive compound therein, a combined strap holding and case strengthening and stiffening plate composed of fiber and applied thereto and fitting the bottom of the In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my case, said plate having apertures, a rail ensignature in the presence of two witnesses. gaglng strap passmg between the fiber plate and the bottom of the case, and cement be- 7 FRANK BUTCHER 5 tween the plate and the bottom of the case Witnesses:

and passing through said apertures, all com GERTRUDE DAVIDSON, bined for the purpose described. i SIMON F. LOEB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing tlie Commissloner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

